Delete a Dropbox file or folder

Updated Dec 13, 2024
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The information in this article applies to all Dropbox users.

As long as you're the owner, you can delete any file or folder in your Dropbox account, even if it’s shared. Find out how to know who the owner of a file or folder is.

Not using Dropbox yet? See how Dropbox makes file recovery and history easy.

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Important:

  • Standard file recovery periods and options don’t apply to files deleted using the Send and track feature. Deleting a file from Send and track is permanent, and any associated metadata or data analytics can’t be recovered once the file is deleted.
  • Any files added to Send and track before February 15, 2024 won’t be added to the “Send and track” folder on your Dropbox account. Deleting these files is permanent, and any associated metadata or data analytics can’t be recovered once the files are deleted.

How to delete a file or folder from Dropbox.com or the Dropbox desktop app

Follow these instructions to delete a file or folder from your Dropbox account. Depending on your Dropbox plan, you can restore deleted files or folders within a certain window of time.

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Hover over the file or folder and click "" (ellipsis).
  3. Click Delete.
  4. Click Delete again to confirm.
  1. Open the Dropbox folder on your computer. 
  2. Right-click the file or folder you’d like to delete.
  3. Click Delete (Windows) or Move to Trash (Mac).
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Notes: 

How to delete files from mobile devices

When you open files in the Dropbox app on your phone or tablet, they are automatically downloaded and saved to your device's memory in a temporary storage area called a cache. This allows you to access the files directly from your phone or tablet even when you're offline.

If you need to free up space or remove the files from your device, you can clear your cache in the app's settings. 


To clear your cache on phones with Android 6 (Marshmallow) or higher:

  1. Open the Dropbox app on your device.
  2. Tap Account. 
  3. Tap the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
  4. Scroll to the bottom of the menu and tap Clear Cache.

How to delete a file or folder from your Dropbox account

  1. Launch the Dropbox app.
  2. Navigate to the file you'd like to delete from your Dropbox account.
  3. Tap the "...” (ellipsis) icon to the right of the file.
  4. Tap Delete to delete the file from Dropbox, your phone, and all computers connected to your account.

In the Dropbox iPhone app, files are stored locally on your device only if you explicitly make them available offline. These offline files are indicated by a white downward-facing arrow in a green circle next to or under the file name in your list.


To remove a file from being available offline:

  1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
  2. Tap the "...” (ellipsis) icon next to the file name.
  3. Toggle Make available offline to the off position.

 

Tapping the highlighted offline icon (white checkmark in a green circle) while previewing a file will also remove it from offline access.
 

How to delete a file or folder from your Dropbox account

To delete a file or folder from your iPhone, all of your computers, and devices simultaneously:

  1. From the screen listing all of your files and folders, tap the “” (ellipsis icon) icon next to the folder name. 
  2. Toggle Make available offline to On or Off.

 

You can also delete a single file while previewing it by tapping the ellipsis () icon at the top right and selecting Delete.


 

To delete multiple files from your iPhone, Dropbox account, and all the computers linked to your Dropbox account:

  1. Click on the rectangle with the checkmark on the top right of your screen.
  2. Check the files you want to delete and tap the Delete button at the bottom of the screen.


 

To delete a folder from your iPhone, the account, and all the computers linked to your Dropbox account:

  1. From the screen listing all of your files and folders, tap the “...” (ellipsis) icon next to the folder name. 
  2. Select Delete. You’ll be prompted to confirm your choice to delete the folder.

The Dropbox iPad app only stores local copies of files if they're made available offline. The offline icon (white checkmark in a green circle) will be highlighted in the file list view for files currently available offline.


To remove the file from your Offline list and your iPad:

  1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the Home tab and locate the Offline section.
  3. Tap See all in the upper right of the Offline section.
  4. Tap the “” (ellipsis) next to the file you’d like to remove.
  5. Toggle Make available offline to Off.

 

Tapping the highlighted offline icon (white checkmark in a green circle) while previewing a file will also remove it from offline access.
 

How to delete a file or folder from your Dropbox account

To delete a file or folder from your iPad, all of your computers, and devices simultaneously:

  1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
  2. Tap Files in the bottom left.
  3. Tap the “…” (ellipsis) next to the file or folder you’d like to delete.
  4. Tap Delete.
  5. Tap Delete again to confirm.

 

You can also delete a single file while previewing it by tapping the trash can icon in the upper right.

 


To delete multiple files or folders from your iPad, the Dropbox website, and all the computers linked to your Dropbox account:

  1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
  2. Tap Files in the bottom left.
  3. Tap the checkbox above the file list.
  4. Check the boxes next to the files or folders you’d like to delete.
  5. Tap Delete in the bottom left.
  6. Tap Delete again to confirm.
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Note: You can only delete files that you own. If someone shares a file with you and you create a copy, you can only delete the copy. You can’t delete the original shared file.

How to permanently delete a file or folder in Dropbox

Follow these instructions to permanently delete a file or folder on dropbox.com. Permanently deleted files and folders can’t be restored.

  1. Log in to dropbox.com.
  2. Click Deleted files in the left sidebar.
  3. Check the box next to the file or folder you’d like to permanently delete.
  4. Click Permanently delete.
  5. Click Permanently delete again to confirm.
  1. Open the Dropbox desktop app.
  2. Navigate to the file or folder you wish to delete. You can find it in your Dropbox folder on your computer.
  3. Right-click on the file or folder, or select the file and press the Delete key on your keyboard. Deleted items will be moved to the Deleted Files folder. 
  4. Log in to dropbox.com.
  5. Click Deleted files in the left sidebar.
  6. Check the box next to the file or folder you’d like to permanently delete.
  7. Click Permanently delete.
  8. Click Permanently delete again to confirm.
  1. Open the Dropbox mobile app.
  2. Tap the “” (vertical ellipsis on Android) or “” (ellipsis on iPhone/iPad) next to the file or folder you’d like to delete.
  3. Tap Delete. Deleted items will be moved to the Deleted Files folder. 
  4. Log in to dropbox.com.
  5. Click Deleted files in the left sidebar.
  6. Check the box next to the file or folder you’d like to permanently delete.
  7. Click Permanently delete.
  8. Click Permanently delete again to confirm.
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Notes: You can permanently delete any file or folder that you own. You can only permanently delete files and folders that you don’t own if:

  • You’re a Dropbox team admin.
  • You’re not an admin, but you’re the only person who has taken any actions on or edited the file or folder.

How to delete Send and track files

Deleting files directly in Send and track won’t affect the source files in your Dropbox account, local drive, OneDrive, Google Drive, or the “Send and track” folder.

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Note: Deleting file copies in Send and track is permanent. Any metadata and data analytics associated with that file can’t be recovered, even if the source file is left intact.

Deleting files in the “Send and track” folder

Adding a file to the Send and track feature from your local drive, OneDrive, or Google Drive creates a file copy in the “Send and track” folder. This copy takes up storage space and counts towards your storage limit.

Deleting this copy from the “Send and track” folder automatically removes the file stored in Send and track, along with any associated metadata and analytics. Restoring the file copy restores the Send and track file and its data.

 

Deleting files from your Dropbox account

Adding a file to Send and track directly from your Dropbox account doesn’t create an additional file copy in the “Send and track” folder.

Deleting the original file from your Dropbox account automatically removes it, and any associated metadata and analytics, from Send and track as well. Restoring the original file restores the Send and track file and its data. 

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